Bathroom Update:: Once I Get Over the Shock, I Think I’m Gonna Love it

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Acaurana Teal Paint (Martha Stewart)

There was a minor incident at my house involving paint over the weekend. Which is probably to be expected since we are painting so much. There are bound to be mishaps and incidents. However, this one was not so much an “incident” as it was a shocking experience.

Thank goodness, this situation involved being shocked by paint ON THE WALL, not by paint on my white slipcovers. I was really shocked at how it felt to see a bright beautiful blue color on the wall.

I don’t think I’ve ever painted a wall bright blue before. Usually I go for more neutrals than vivid colors on walls in my homes, but for some reason in bathrooms I’ve more than once opted for brighter colors that are found as accent colors in the rest of the house. I’m not sure what it is about bathrooms, I think their small size makes them the perfect candidate for being extra daring in paint colors.

In past houses, I’ve had bright coral in one bathroom and bright cinnamon pinkish orange in another bathroom at another house. But never bright blue. I’m branching out.

Yes, I know I’m SO 2010 with bright turquoise walls, but since I was so 2011 in 2000-2009 with my pinkish honeysuckle walls I think it all balances out. I love marching to my own trends.

Note. In case you are completely confused about what you are looking at, this bathroom is NOT my powder room. I did select a new sink and mirror for the powder room as I previously mentioned, but because I’m insane I found myself starting a makeover in my son’s bathroom first. I am not even sure what happened, suddenly I was just painting away in this bathroom.

In my defense, this upstairs bathroom just seemed like an easier project to do right now and one I can complete in less time than my previous plans for my powder room. Or so I hope. Not to mention this was a bathroom that was still bathed in swine (aka mauve pink taupe paint).

So why did I end up choosing this turquoise or tealish color on the walls? I decided I wanted it to be a fun bathroom that my son, my girls and guests would all enjoy since it has to be shared by all of them. I wanted it to be pretty, but not too girlie since it is my son’s bathroom most of the week.

I also wanted it to be a room that didn’t look exactly like our other rooms (why duplicate the same look everywhere when you can punch it up a notch?!), but yet still fit in with our “funky old world coastal” vibe (let’s call it that, for lack of any sensible term to describe what I’m trying to do. I really have no idea where I’m headed with my design, as is becoming increasingly evident. It is just evolving as I go.). And I wanted to keep the project simple and doable in a short period of time.

As I’ve mentioned, I have really missed all the architectural details, wood walls and the charming bathrooms I’ve had in my older homes through the years. I decided this bathroom would be the perfect place for me to try out my skills and patience with doing board and batten myself! HELLO!!! Yes, you read that right. I’m willing to give it a try even though I cringe at the thought of putting my hands anywhere near liquid nails. I’ll talk about that part of my project in a future post.

I was asked on Facebook if it is best to have a “whole house plan” for your paint before you begin so it all flows together. While that certainly would help your colors to be cohesive and pleasing, as you probably have noticed, I really enjoy letting my house evolve rather than plan things out too carefully in advance.

Honestly, if I were to have laid my paint swatches out on the counter in order to choose the palette, I would not have necessarily chosen these particular colors TOGETHER as “the perfect scheme,” but I’m happy with how they flow well from room to room, even without pre-planning. They are unique, but still pleasing as a whole once they are actually up on the wall. I like to live on the edge and not plan creativity in advance too much, too much planning feels a little stiff, forced and predictable.

Even though I thought I was prepared for it, I will admit I almost had a heart attack when I first started painting and realized how vivid this coloris. I actually stood there with my mouth wide open trying to decide if I should lock the door and repaint it before my husband saw what I had done and took away my painting license, or if I was in love with it.

Fortunately, I think I have fallen in love with the idea of the white board & batten topped with the fun blue walls. It was just a little shocking to see it at first. It is fun, I LIKE IT. Well, I hope I will.

BEFORE
Yes, that is tooth paste you see splattered here and there on the vanity.

Originally I was going to paint the vanity cabinet blue, but in my typical change my mind 30 million times fashion, for now I’m going to leave it as is since I painted the upper walls blue and I’m not really in the mood for a cabinet painting project. I still might decide to paint the cabinets once I see how the room comes together.

AFTER

I have been dying to change the hardware to something “more my style” ever since I moved in so I was SUPER excited to finally get to do it! These pulls are from Martha Stewart’s collection at Home Depot. I LOVE THEM, especially the detail of the little screws on each side! I will say, however, that while it looks like a simple change, it took WAY LONGER than it should have because the drilled holes in our cabinets were ever so slightly off. Nothing simple is ever simple for me.

I finally had to ask my husband to put these on because I lost my patience. I was so exhausted from trying unsuccessfully to put these pulls on that I had to go take a nap. Which I never do (take naps). It was THAT frustrating to me!! But look how nice it looks now after my nap?

I’m so excited about my bright and happy new bathroom!! Now I just have to finish it, but more on that later!

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Comments

I love the color! And you’re right, the board and batten will give it a nice coastal feel. Can’t wait to see the finished result! I have been debating about whether I need a “grand plan” before redoing my dining room, so it’s nice to hear that you can let things evolve and still look beautiful!

That’s a great color, Melissa! I think it will look even better with the board and batten on the bottom portion of the wall. I like to say bathrooms are a good place to try something daring and different from the other rooms in your house. Good for you for being daring! : )

I love using bathrooms for a punch of color in a mostly neutral house. And that blue is just too pretty – especially when paired with a crisp white board and batten! Can’t wait to see it all done. I’m impressed that you’re doing the b&b yourself!!!

nothing simple is Ever simple at my house either, so you’re not alone on that! My husband and I joke about it. Thank goodness we live ~1/2 mile from Home Depot.
I usually go with muted colors too, so I can’t wait to see your finished bathroom. We’re doing my daughter’s room a blue on top and B&B on the bottom.
Have fun with it!

Melissa,
I think the blue is great, if you love it. I too tend to go with safe colors and the one room I was bold with color in is probably my favorite! Go for it and be sure to show us the finished room!
Karen

Beautiful color! It reminds me of “Calico” by Behr (one of their Historic Preservation colors), which I have in my bedroom. I remember feeling the same sort of, “What have I done?” shock when I first painted it 5 years ago, but I love it now. I really like warm wood tone on your vanity there, too. I look forward to seeing how the room comes together!

I’m loving the blue, Melissa. I think you’re right, bathrooms are a great place to introduce great color since they are small and there is not much chance to add color through accents. If you were shocked by the blue, I’ll bet when you get the b&b on the wall and painted it probably won’t look so shocking. Great choice!

I think I know how you felt. In 2003, I was pregnant with my first child (a boy) and I decided to paint the nursery in 2 shades of turquoise stripes. I painted all 4 walls with one shade, and thought, “Uh oh…” I decided if Pepto Bismol ever switched from pink to blue, it would be the shade I chose!

Long story short, once I got the other shade of stripes on there + the white wainscotting around the perimeter of the room, it was beautiful!!

What a great color! I really like using bold colors, but somehow the colors in our house ended up a little more toned-down. We didn’t plan out our palette either, but as it turns out, every color is one with gray undertones. Perhaps I should branch out a bit and try a color like this in our guest bathroom as well!

Melissa, The color is gorgeous & I hope that it has given you the enthusiasm to continue to paint other spaces as well (I loved when you painted your cocktail table too)! I love color on walls, especially when combined with white trim… so crisp. The white board & batten is brilliant! I am a fan of color & there is not a room in my house that is not painted… I call my palette “sea glass” and, as the name evokes, ranges from soft seafoamy greens to deep blues, to periwinkle & dreamy purples. They all work together but are not too repetitious. I hope that your family & friends enjoy their trips to your bathroom:)

I think it’s gorgeous! We did a “surprise makeover” for my mom once when they were out of the country, and painted one of their bathrooms the very same color! LOVE it! In my mom’s bathroom we did some camel and white accents (an ocean theme), and starfish and sea glass looked stunning w/ this color. Can’t wait to see the finished product (esp. the board and batten)!

How beautiful, Melissa!
I was pleasantly shocked and surprised when I saw the name of the color.
My guest room is this color!!!!!!!!
I added whites and reds.
I am excited for you and the changes you are making!
This blue is a wonderfully happy, fun, moody color.
You’ll enjoy it!
Have fun!
~Leslie

Hooray for a bold bathroom! I’m still getting used to mine, but I love it. My last kitchen was exactly that colour of teal. It was supposed to be a shade lighter, but I used cheap paint. Once I got over the shock, I loved it.

Perfect! I can’t wait to see the finished room. Your cabinet is a beautiful wood…I hope you don’t paint it. As it will give a certain masculinity to the bath that your son will no doubt appreciate….Ha!
I must tell you….the other day I said to my husband…you know…I *really* *like* board and batten…hope I can do that someplace sometime. Soon.
P.S. A little whitewashed Longaberger will be a great finishing touch! HeeHee!s

Holy Acaurana Teal, Batman! That blue just floats my bathroom boat. Love the handles on the cabinetry. We had a similar problem with kitchen handles, Melissa. We bought the handles of our dreams, drilled the first set of holes on one new cupboard drawer and discovered that the screws kept breaking. So we went back with the drawer and the handles and had the handles replaced with something that would mask that first set of drill holes on the one drawer. It was an afternoon fraught with high drama. The salesperson came up with a drawer pull I love, and you would have to be flat on your back on the floor to see the one itsy, bitsy error.

I think the smaller the house and more open the floor plan the more one needs an overall plan. Downsizing into a small, open floor plan I was advised to pick three colors and make it work! Am delighted with the way this worked out! Makes it much easier to rearrange furniture and accessories as needed. However, when it came to the laundry room, I walked into the paint store, went directly to the red display, picked a bright rosy red and took it home! Never tried it — just threw it up on the walls! Love it!!!!!

Very pretty, Melissa. I used a similar color in our main bath several years ago. With about 65″ of bright white beadboard below, the blue wraps around the upper part of the walls and is just enough color to make an impression. Bits of blue on other elements plus a mix of brown, white and creamy distressed woods give my bath a cottagey look that I still love every day. You’re going to love yours too!

I just did the exact same thing–painted my powder room and almost the exact same color!! I’m trying to get used to it, too, as I usually go for more subtle colors. I’m using that color as accents in the other rooms, so it just seemed appropriate to go all out in the bathroom. But, I have got other work to do so I won’t be passing any judgement until it’s finished! :)

YES!!! I love that color! I can totally envision it with the board and batten, and it will look great! I can see though, how you would feel a little apprehensive at first, but it is going to look so good once it is all together!

The color is gorgeous! I love it! I am a real color person…. We are redoing my hubby’s office right now and it is SLOOOOW going, he is working at HIS pace and NOT mine:):) It is making me crazy:):) But it sure is looking nice!!!! I have a few posts about it and will do the reveal HOPEFULLY by Thurs. I YI YI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! XO, Pinky

Love the color. Melissa, I found some Martha colors I love at Home Depot. Can’t decide if I should have the colors matched to my usual Benjamin Moore paint, or should give the Martha paint a try. How did you like the quality of the paint?

Also, in our last house, I tried to paint the bathroom a “calm” blue and ended up with a really bright teal. Since I was painting during the baby’s nap, I had to live with it for a while. My daughter loved it and, since I really wasn’t too excited to paint again I decided to wait a while. I ended up loving it too and would go back to the same color in a heartbeat. (As soon as the kids tire of what we have now – I let them pick it out.)

I love it….I think a bathroom is the perfect place to add a beautiful bright color. I painted my laundry room Hawaiian sky which is a teal/blue color and I love it….makes me smile everytime I wall in the room.
I think you are going to be so happy with your choice.
Happy Day

We have a dresser missing drawer pulls on one side because NONE of the standard pulls fit this old dresser. I need a nap every time I think of replacing them, what with the drilling and the hole filling and the painting.

I LOVE that color Melissa!! But of course if I try and go use it, it won’t look as good. Grrr. Love the new hardware too! I’m so lazy that I didn’t drill new holes one time, so I just bent the new handles to make them fit our awkward size holes. :)

I resonate with what you’ve done so far! :)
I have those exact same MS pulls in my kitchen– love ’em!
I will enjoy following your progress…I’ve got a small half bath that is sadly in need of update so I’m always on the search for new ideas.
Your writing makes me smile. :)

Melissa,
I actually have this paint color exactly in my guest room. It gets a ton of natural light so depending on the time of day it can be muted like the ocean or bright like a Mexican fiesta!! I paired it with simple white drapes, white comforter and black (a lil zebra) accents thru out the room. It is very exotic and tropical and it reminds me of my wedding/honeymoon in Hawaii at a posh hotel! I love it.. but it is not for everyone. My mother in law came and loved it but than her sister (my aunt in law) came this summer and said you can see the color when your eyes are closed. We have a bathroom that is right off that room and we did a much lighter almost sky color aqua in there to give the room a lighter airer feel compared to the guest room. I am happy with my paint choices and hey if I change my mind it is a simple trip to get a different paint color!!!

So I have been trying to pick a color for my powder room, and I was down to two….and then you posted this…. I LOVE this color for a bathroom, and you’ve totally shifted my plan. I was going to go light, but this bold color really speaks to me. Thanks for the inspiration!

I love it too.. I had a shade a tad lighter in the bath of our 1915 craftsman bath.. It had wainscoting with breadboard in white below. And that was in 2005.. I guess I was ahead of the times, but I loved how it felt in a bath. Water colors always work in bath, no matter the trend I think. Our current home was built in 1995 and I’m not going back to “swine” in this house either…no matter if it does comes back.